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Any chance of adding a message prior to posting in an old thread (say anything more than a 2-4 months since the last post, but especially anything older than a year). Something along the lines of:
"You are about to perform the dark arts of thread necromancy. Continuing this act will likely damn your immortal soul to the bottom of the abyss where it will be renewed each morning so that it can be devoured by the demons that lurk there. Prior to your banishment you will be publicly mocked and scourged for participating in this vile deed."
Okay, sometimes a thread necromancy has a legitimate cause, and its probably more just my personal irritation at thread necromancy, but this practice should be discouraged. But if a thread that is that old doesn't already answer a persons question it usually isn't the right place to get an answer be bringing it back to life - a new post with a new question that specifically addresses the persons question is likely to be far more clear and concise for both the original poster and those stumbling into it.
PostMonster General
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Personally, I'm not against thread necromancy, unless it's to resurrect a contentious thread either deliberately or accidentally. There's a reason we don't automatically lock threads once they drop off a forum's front page.
Regarding warnings, I think someone who resurrects it without realizing that it's old probably wouldn't read the extra text but maybe that's just me.
The messageboards serve as a resource for me. I don't care if a thread was started three years ago and had someone contribute to it 16 months ago and then again contributed to it 3 months ago, when I'm looking for information, I'd like to look in as few as threads as possible about the subject matter with as many voices as possible. I care not if those opinions on a subject came recently or years prior.
Thread necromancy haters just don't seem to get that. And it's a shame that some don't recognize these boards as a resource and have to shame those who have something to add to these resourceful threads with necro-name-calling.
What's wrong with necroing really? If someone takes the time to search for a thread on a topic they want to discuss instead of staring a new one they should be commended instead of mocked.
The boards are a resource. But frequently threads are necro'd with a similar, yet different, question. That does not help in searching for information - that means you have to wade through a 10 page thread to see if it might answer your question rather than finding a thread that (with an appropriate thread title) specifically addresses the question you have.
Old threads don't need to disappear - they can still exist as a resource for searching for information. Narrower thread focus/topic enhances the usability of using the forums as a resource. Necro'd threads usually do one or more of the following:
- Expand the scope of a thread beyond what the original topic was. All threads do this to an extent as they spin off into tangents but some necro threads are a complete shift in direction.
- Reveal nothing new. If the same question actually is being asked usually the answer was already provided up thread from the necro post. In this case there is no need to necro the thread OR start a new thread with the same question.
- Expect responses from people who posted in the thread who are long since gone.
- Make it harder for those who actually use the forums for ongoing discussion on multiple topics to filter through new information as opposed to rehashing old information.
Maybe thread necro hater haters :) don't get that necro'ing makes finding concise information harder to find.
What's wrong with necroing really? If someone takes the time to search for a thread on a topic they want to discuss instead of staring a new one they should be commended instead of mocked.
If its the exact same topic, and they are adding additional opinion or insights to it, then I approve of thread necro vs starting a new thread.
What's wrong with necroing really? If someone takes the time to search for a thread on a topic they want to discuss instead of staring a new one they should be commended instead of mocked.If its the exact same topic, and they are adding additional opinion or insights to it, then I approve of thread necro vs starting a new thread.
Even then I don't really like thread necromancy because the people on the message boards changes over time. If a thread already has 200+ posts, lots of people aren't interested in joining in the disscussion, even if they would normally be interested in the topic. People who remember the old thread might join, but it discourages new voices a lot of the time.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
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I personally prefer an old thread over some silly arbitrary limit ala "3 weeks to the grave". Saves you from continually rehashing the same old. Really.... If you have something to contribute even after 500 posts, you probably will. If not then the old discussion did its job and a new thread probably won't arrive at any startling new conclusion.
That is, except for posting for the sake of postcount
I would love to see an effect not unlike when certain little blue mushroom dwelling fey are invoked - the poster has their icon temporarily replaced with a lich, or some other worker of the necromantic arts.
Maybe tie it to a hidden counter or stat thingie.
The only problem I have with thread necro is when, for example, people reply to the OP when the question asked in the OP was answered three years ago, or for example, the OP is about an issue that has since been resolved by a Pathfinder product coming out that explains it, but then people reply by going "you idiot, read x book," not realizing the time lapse, or some such.
It's also annoying when bots necro a thread for no reason--some folks have these weird little roaming bots that trawl through threads and randomly post to them. I remember one particular case when that happened and it reawakened a particularly nasty controversial discussion and the thread ended up getting locked.
Personally, I think boards are cleaner when they have a no necromancy rule.
But if we have to have necroed threads, then for the love of god people, read the OP carefully, check the date, don't start arguments that were already resolved, and don't use trawlbots.
But as the above stuff ain't gonna happen, I'd rather see a thread auto lock after a reasonably long time (say a year or two).